Surah Al-Ahzab 33:50
سُورَةُ الأَحۡزَابِ · Medinan · Verse 50 of 73
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِنَّآ أَحْلَلْنَا لَكَ أَزْوَٰجَكَ ٱلَّٰتِىٓ ءَاتَيْتَ أُجُورَهُنَّ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ مِمَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمِّكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمَّٰتِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَٰلَٰتِكَ ٱلَّٰتِى هَاجَرْنَ مَعَكَ وَٱمْرَأَةًۭ مُّؤْمِنَةً إِن وَهَبَتْ نَفْسَهَا لِلنَّبِىِّ إِنْ أَرَادَ ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَن يَسْتَنكِحَهَا خَالِصَةًۭ لَّكَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۗ قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا فَرَضْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِىٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُمْ لِكَيْلَا يَكُونَ عَلَيْكَ حَرَجٌۭ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا
Translation
Prophet, We have made lawful for you the wives whose bride gift you have paid, and any slaves God has assigned to you through war, and the daughters of your uncles and aunts on your father’s and mother’s sides, who migrated with you. Also any believing woman who has offered herself to the Prophet and whom the Prophet wishes to wed- this is only for you [Prophet] and not the rest of the believers: We know exactly what We have made obligatory for them concerning their wives and slave-girls- so you should not be blamed: God is most forgiving, most merciful.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
In Surah 33, verse 50, Allah directly addresses our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) with "يا أيها النبي" (O Prophet). This divine address is a profound act of honor, setting the stage for specific, unique permissions granted to him regarding marriage, highlighting Allah's special care and concern. The ayah delineates which categories of women were made lawful for him, distinguishing these from the general rulings applicable to other believers.
The Special Categories
The verse meticulously lists the women permissible to the Prophet. It begins by affirming the lawfulness of "أزواجك اللاتي آتيت أجورهن" (your wives to whom you have given their dowries). Imam al-Zamakhshari clarifies that "أجورهن" (their wages or dues) refers to the *mahr*, the dowry, emphasizing that the *mahr* is likened to a "wage" for marital intimacy. He and al-Razi further explain that specifying "those to whom you have given their dowries" isn't a restriction on *all* his wives, but rather a description of the *most honorable* and *purest* form of marriage, as giving the dowry promptly is considered superior and preferable in Islam.
Next, the verse permits "وما ملكت يمينك مما أفاء الله عليك" (what your right hand possesses from what Allah has bestowed upon you). This refers to female captives of war, particularly those given to him as *fay'* (spoils acquired without battle), further illustrating Allah's provision for His Prophet.
Another category includes "وبنات عمك وبنات عماتك وبنات خالك وبنات خالاتك اللاتي هاجرن معك" (the daughters of your paternal uncles, and the daughters of your paternal aunts, and the daughters of your maternal uncles, and the daughters of your maternal aunts, who emigrated with you). Ibn Ashur notes the particular phrasing, using the singular "عم" (paternal uncle) and plural "عمات" (paternal aunts) and "خالات" (maternal aunts) according to common Arabic usage. The condition "اللاتي هاجرن معك" (who emigrated with you) is significant, emphasizing the honor and spiritual distinction of those who undertook the *Hijra* (migration for Allah's sake) alongside the Prophet.
Unique Privileges of Prophethood
A particularly striking aspect of the wording is seen in the permission granted for "وامرأة مؤمنة إن وهبت نفسها للنبي إن أراد النبي أن يستنكحها خالصة لك من دون المؤمنين" (a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet, if the Prophet wishes to marry her, exclusively for you, apart from the believers). Notice the subtle but profound shift in pronouns: it begins by addressing the Prophet directly ("لَكَ" – for you), then shifts to the third person "للنبي" (for the Prophet) twice, before returning to direct address ("لَكَ" – for you). As al-Jadwal and Ibn Ashur explain, this grammatical device, known as *iltifāt* (a shift in address), is not arbitrary. It serves to emphasize that this specific permission, to marry a woman who gifts herself without a dowry, is a unique honor bestowed upon him specifically *because of his prophethood* (لأجل النبوّة).
Ibn Ashur further points out that the double condition "إن وهبت نفسها للنبي إن أراد النبي أن يستنكحها" (if she gives herself to the Prophet, if the Prophet wishes to marry her) highlights the Prophet's freedom of choice. It negates a pre-Islamic custom where such a gift would obligate the man to marry her, ensuring that the Prophet was not bound and removing any potential shame from the woman if he chose not to accept.
Ease and Mercy
The verse concludes by clarifying the divine wisdom behind these unique allowances: "لكيلا يكون عليك حرج" (so that there would be no difficulty upon you). This phrase, as Ibn Ashur notes, is a direct statement of Allah's intention to ease any burden on His Messenger, stemming from His boundless attributes. The final words, "وكان الله غفورا رحيما" (And Allah is Ever Forgiving, Most Merciful), beautifully reinforce this, reminding us that Allah's actions are always rooted in His perfect knowledge, forgiveness, and mercy for His servants, especially for His chosen Prophet.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Ahzab 33:50 is discussed in 5 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
- Marriage (Nikah) (key verse)
- Women (Nisa') (key verse)
- Chastity (Ihsan)
- Divine Presence (Ma'iyyah)
- Prophethood (Nubuwwah)
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Ahzab 33:50 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.